A Sound Church

Summary: Tonight from this passage we will learn what obedient membership looks like, as far as how we relate to each other, and how we should treat one another, which makes up a sound church, not only sound doctrinally, but also sound in how we teach, and what we

We began this series with the idea of learning what a biblical church looks like, then comparing the way we do church, and if there are any differences, then take steps to bring our church closer to the biblical mark.

We first learned what the five calls of the church are, which is to serve God and people, to live Godly lives, to live hopeful lives, to uphold the bible, and to make disciples.

Then last week we learned that we should be an obedient church, an obedient church fulfils its God given purpose to spread the gospel, calls and appoints obedient leaders, teaches sound doctrine, has members who are obedient.

Tonight from this passage we will learn what obedient membership looks like, as far as how we relate to each other, and how we should treat one another, which makes up a sound church, not only sound doctrinally, but also sound in how we teach, and what we teach.

Notice the mandate, “You must teach”, if we are going to be a sound church, then we “must teach” sound biblical doctrine.

It is not optional, it is a biblical mandate, that means what we teach, and preach is serious, we don’t teach and preach opinion as truth, we teach the bible as truth. If you teach a Sunday School class or discipleship training class or any other bible study class, you have a biblical mandate to study, and not take it lightly, and teach sound biblical doctrine.

A sound church teaches sound biblical doctrine.

II. A sound Church teaches older men.

Vs. 2 “Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance.”

A. "temperate"

B. "dignified"

C. "sensible"

D. "sound in faith" -- Faith

E. "in love" -- Love

F. "in perseverance" -- Hope

III. A sound church teaches older women

Vs. 3-4a “Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Then they can train the younger women”

A. "reverent in their behavior"

B. "not malicious gossips"

C. "nor enslaved to much wine"

D. "teaching what is good"

E. "that they may encourage the young women"

IV. A sound Church has younger women who are obedient.

Vs. 4b-5 “to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.”

A. "love their husbands"

B. "to love their children"

C. "to be sensible"

D. "pure"

E. "workers at home"

F. "kind"

G. "being subject to their own husbands"

H. Goal: "that the word of God may not be dishonored"

V. A sound Church has younger men who are obedient.

Vs. 6-8 “Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled. In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.”

A. "sensible"

B. "in all things show yourself to be an example of good deeds"

C. "with purity in doctrine"

D. "dignified"

E. "sound in speech which is above reproach"

F. Goal: "in order that the opponent may be put to shame, having nothing bad to say

about us"

VI. A sound Church has members who make the gospel attractive to the world.

Vs. 9-10 “Teach slaves to be subject to their masters in everything, to try to please them, not to talk back to them, and not to steal from them, but to show that they can be fully trusted, so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive.”

When we read in scripture, and it speaks to slaves, we can relate it to our work in the work force.

We are to be subject to who we work for.

We are to be well-pleasing, not augmentative.

We are not to steal form our employers, but show good faith.

Why do we do this, why do we live out our faith, to make the gospel attractive.

Conclusion

I pray that we would be a sound church, in all that we do, in our teaching, and in our living it out so that the gospel will look attractive to a lost and dying world.

Shame on us we don’t make the gospel look attractive, if we turn people away by the way we live.

Tonight from this passage we will learn what obedient membership looks like, as far as how we relate to each other, and how we should treat one another, which makes up a sound church, not only sound doctrinally, but also sound in how we teach, and what we